New York Shakes It Up

The picks from the New York Film Critics Circle are in, and I'm glad to see, if you look at the other critics' awards, there are no clear front runners in practically any category. Keeps things exciting.

New York really goes for Milk and Happy-Go-Lucky.

Film: Milk Director: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky

Actor: Sean Penn, Milk

Actress: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, Milk

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Cruz is the one actor I'd call the obvious front runner, though I think the main explanation is lack of competition.)

Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married (this I still don't get)

First Film: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River

Foreign Film: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (great film, but isn't this from last year?)

Animated Film: WALL-E (okay, it's a front runner for animation)

Documentary: Man on Wire (another front runner--I really mean the big categories)